Air New Zealand has ruled out launching a rewards programme based on a person's vaccination status following Qantas announcing on Monday it was launching a massive nationwide campaign to help encourage Australians to get vaccinated.
From Tuesday, vaccinated Aussies can claim either 1000 Qantas points, 15 status credits or a $20 flight discount to be used on either Qantas or Jetstar, with larger prize packs also on offer exclusively for frequent flyers who can prove they've gotten the jab.
But Air NZ said it's not looking at anything similar here in Aotearoa.
"We're incredibly supportive of the vaccine rollout; however, incentivising customers is not something we're considering," an airline spokesperson told Newshub.
ACT Party leader David Seymour recently put forward the idea of a lottery-like system for people using the COVID-19 tracking app, and today the party threw its support behind Qantas' campaign.
"ACT is really encouraged by this move from Qantas," a spokesperson said.
"Compulsion is a blunt and unpopular tool, but there is still a public benefit when individuals choose to be part of tracing, testing, and vaccination. Positive incentives are a good way to increase the public benefit while avoiding compulsion."
The party believes the Labour Government should be thinking outside the box to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"Unfortunately for now lockdowns are the only tool they go hard and early on," the spokesperson added.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said Australia's vaccine rollout was critical for protecting public health and key to breaking the cycle of lockdowns.
"Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take that brings us that little bit closer to life as we knew it," he said.
